Read It' controversy has a happy ending

Some may liken it to the story of the little mouse that roared or David versus Goliath, but the saga of Lansdowne Public Library’s efforts to restore its “Read It” video to YouTube is simply one of a happy ending for all parties involved.

“Read It” is a video parody of Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit single “Beat It,” produced by local teens and Lansdowne library staffers to promote reading.

The idea came from Lansdowne Public Library Director Sandra Samuel Giannella, who, as a youngster, saw Michael Jackson and his four big brothers in concert around 1972.

Abbe Klebanoff, head of public services for the library, pitched the idea to the youngsters who frequent the library after school and they seized the concept. The video was low budget, created via iPad with no aim for profit. The only goal was to raise awareness of reading.

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“Read It” debuted on Nov. 16, appropriately enough at the dedication of the Ronnie Hawkins Resource Room, named for the late librarian who was an advocate for youth programs. Three days later, the video was blocked on YouTube.

Exactly how that came about is unclear.

The library received an email that stated: “One or more publishing rights collecting societies and Warner Chappell have reviewed your copyright dispute for your video, ‘Read It.’ For more information, please visit your Copyright Notice page. Sincerely, The YouTube Team.”

When Klebanoff contacted Warner Chapell to find out why the video was blocked, she was referred to Sony/ATV Music Publishing that had taken over copyright administration of the Michael Jackson music catalogue last August. After email and telephone exchanges with a Sony licensing representative in Nashville, Tenn., Klebanoff was told the library could not use Jackson’s work in any way.

“A request was made to change the lyrics. That request was denied,” Sony spokesman Jimmy Asci told the Daily Times on Monday.

However, later that day, Klebanoff was informed by the Sony licensing representative that “Read It” could be posted on the library’s website, but not on YouTube, Facebook or any other site.

Then at 2:42 p.m. Tuesday, “The YouTube Team” sent the library another email: “Warner Chappell has released its copyright claim on your video, ‘Read It.’” By Tuesday evening, “Read It” was back on YouTube.

On Wednesday, Asci insisted that Sony had only given permission for “Read It” to be posted on the library’s web site, not YouTube, and released a statement that noted: “While it is not our common practice to do so, we made an exception for the Lansdowne students, waiving all fees, because it is a well intentioned effort by students to motivate kids to read.”

He said YouTube had the power to block the video or unblock it.

Just how “The YouTube Team” determined to do either for “Read It” will apparently remain a mystery since Google, owner of YouTube, has not responded to a press request for clarification. It is also puzzling because YouTube initially put the responsibility at the feet of Warner Chappell that no longer handles Jackson’s music.

In any case, Giannella is confident that “Read It” will remain on YouTube. The story has caught the attention of many media outlets, from the Library Journal to United Press International. “Good Morning America” did a piece about it that was posted online by ABC. Between Wednesday and Friday nights, views of “Read It” on YouTube exploded from 480 to 5,500.

It seems the outcome was a good one for all the parties involved: For the Lansdowne Public Library and Klebanoff who spent more than a week lobbying for “Read It’s” return to YouTube; for the young people who could have been getting into trouble instead of pouring their creativity into a worthwhile project such as a pro-reading video; and for Sony, whose image is only enhanced by allowing such a positive project to be seen by a wider audience.

Jackson was, after all, a strong proponent of reading.

In fact, “Read It” could prove profitable for Sony by increasing awareness of Michael Jackson and his works among the “under 20” crowd. We can’t help but think the late King of Pop would wholeheartedly approve.